When political leaders fail to demonstrate virtue, ordinary citizens must step up. This analysis explores how America’s addiction to junk media—from talk radio to cable news to social media—has created cognitive decline paralleling AI “brain rot,” eroding our capacity for democratic deliberation.

Fear, hate, and revenge drive American politics as fascism gains ground. After a political assassination and the president’s refusal to call for unity, progressives struggle with impotent hand-wringing. A security guard’s everyday struggles reveal how dysfunction breeds authoritarian appeal.

“From Bad to Worse: Social Media, Polarization, and the 2024 Election” examines the negative influence of social media on political polarization, personal decision to disengage from platforms, and whether society can improve itself amid entrenched partisanship.